From Houston Public Media:
In the latest round of global test results, the United States remained in the middle of the pack.
But one Houston school stood out and highlighted how the United States did the best out of all developed countries to close the achievement gap between disadvantaged kids and their more affluent peers.
The test is called the PISA and it’s administered by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. In 2015, it tested about half a million 15-year-olds from 72 countries.
Students at Chavez High School in Southeast Houston showed significant improvement, outperforming their peers at similar schools with high poverty.
“There’s a certain amount of pride to let them know that they belong, that they belong on the world stage,” said Principal Rene Sanchez.
Sanchez said when they first took the international test, the results weren’t great.
“For science, we were grouped mainly in the middle. For math and English, we were grouped mainly to the middle and the lower scores,” he said.
Fast forward three years to the latest results, and Chavez has improved a lot.
“We’ve been able to move math and science to above the trend line and English onto the trend line, so we’ve been able to show that growth and it’s made us extremely excited,” Sanchez said.
He’s not the only one. Jon Schnur leads America Achieves, the U.S. group that helps manage the international test.
“Chavez really has made some of the greatest strides in math and science and helps show that poverty is not destiny,” Schnur said.
